Explainer

Amari: The Bartender’s Bittersweet Symphony

‘Amaro’ means bitter in Italian (‘amari’ is the plural), and covers an incredibly wide category of bitter herbal liqueurs made by steeping botanicals in spirits or wine, and adding sugar. Amari were originally made by monks and thought to be medicinal (where would we be without those tonic-touting monks?! Living in a much less flavourful world, that’s for sure).

The Facts on Sherry and Port: Fortify your knowledge on these versatile wines, writes Cara Devine

Ask any bartender about their sherry selection and their eyes will light up with a feverish passion. And port, once the preserve of red-nosed captains of industry straight out of a Dickens novel, has finally taken its rightful place on cocktail lists alongside the vermouths and quinquinas who have reigned as undisputed champions of the fortifieds for far too long.

Famous Whisky Drinkers

Who are the most famous whisky drinkers? Here’s a quick run-down, including some you may be surprised to see on a list of whisky connoisseurs.

It’s St Patrick’s Day, so get into some Irish-style drinking

Starting well back in 1631 as a ‘modest religious holiday’ to celebrate the life of St Patrick the Patron Saint of Ireland. Interestingly the man in question wasn’t even Irish, instead born Roman British around 1373 and at the age of 16 was captured by an Irish raiding crew and taken back to be sold into slavery.

Bring those frozen drinks in from the cold, writes Cara Devine

“Frozen Daiquiris were being served at La Floridita in the early 1900s, and when the electric blender was popularised by Fred Waring in 1938 he took it to famed ‘home economist’ Mabel Stegner who then included a Strawberry Daiquiri recipe in her 1952 book ‘Electric Blender Recipes’…”